The fried char koay teow and the light noodle dish of koay teow th’ng is a popular hawker food across Penang. For those staying around Hillside in Tanjung Bungah Penang, one best place to try these two dishes is at Ah Soon Char Koay Teow stall.

Dinner guests will experience dishes at the family-owned cafe, taken care by siblings Visarn Noel and Uppasara Nicole.

Nicole takes care of the front while brother Noel and his friend Shane Chee are the chefs who make what comes out of the kitchen. Both the chefs proceeded with cooking from scratch – including curing ham and bacon.

We had a great night out with some friends on our first time visiting the cafe. To get things started, we shared two salads. The Caesar Salad served topped with grated cheese comes with combinations of lettuce, hardboiled egg, toasted croutons and house-made bacon.

Tucked away in the Hillside area of Tanjung Bungah in Penang is Gusto Cafe. This cafe’s with a cosy vibe is built with open space for light and warmth. On the ground floor is the main dining hall, complete with the kitchen while a second smaller dining area is located on slightly lower ground.

The owner, Jason Selvanayagam runs the community neighbourhood cafe with his wife, serving up homemade breakfast and lunch fare to an eclectic mix of (neighbours) regulars.

For early birds, comforting breakfast staples include sausage, egg, bacon, baked beans and bagel while the kid’s menu offers toast with juice and choices of egg and bacon.

The burgers are available with different filling options, notably the The Pig Out Burger which has pork and melted cheese. One can upgrade one’s choice of burger with extras slices of pork bacon, cheese or egg. The cafe also serves Jalapeno bacon cheese burger.

Penang is a hawker paradise with a huge variety of interesting street food stalls offering plenty of good and reasonably priced Chinese, Malay and Indian cuisine. I revel in the delights of hawker food, sold throughout the market area, neighbourhood stalls and the narrow back alleys of Penang.

Some of the stalls offer sitting areas while others have none, so you may have to eat while standing up – a bit of a challenge. However, it’s an even bigger challenge to decipher what goes into each dish and just where those flavours dancing on your palate stem from. This is where I can help.

Teochew Cendol

What it is: Teochew Cendol is definitely the most popular dessert in Penang. The dessert is made of finely shaved ice, boiled red beans, aromatic palm sugar or gula Melaka, creamy coconut milk and the queen ingredient is the soft green bean flour noodles flavoured by fragrant pandan juice called cendol.

Penang is a food haven and the variety ranges from appetizing hawker food, contemporary cuisine and of course, seafood. For those craving seafood meals, you’re spoilt for choice with the many seafood restaurants on both the mainland and the island.

Just ask around and the locals will proudly recommend their seafood places. There are some right on the beach with views of fishing boats and fishermen hauling in the day’s catch. However, if you prefer dining indoors with air-conditioning, there are many restaurants conveniently located within Penang towns.

There is a comprehensive selection of seafood to choose from in the display counter of seafood restaurants such as crabs, mussels, prawns, clams, fish, oysters and many more. Whether you want them grilled, steamed, chilled, deep-fried or baked, choosing fresh seafood can take some time. Fear not, here are a few tips that will help you order the best seafood meal you’ve ever had.

Burger joints have been around Penang for decades but over the last year the number has increased significantly. Presently the island offers many places for burgers prepared with delicious fresh meat, homemade sauce and selected buns from bakeries.

Just recently, we get the first taste of Rasa Deli’s croinuts, a delicious merge of croissant and doughnut. The deli at Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa, Penang is making the croinuts, a version based on the cronuts created by New York-based chef Dominique Ansel.

For this Christmas and New Year Eve, I have compiled a list of tantalizing offering of lunch and dinner menus from the many dining places in Penang. There is something for everyone and I hope it will help you plan for this holiday dining. And don’t forget to have your reservations made well in advance…

I would like to wish you all A Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year 2013!

Having afternoon tea at Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa in Batu Ferringhi, Penang is a real indulgence. I remembered my first noteworthy exposure with Rasa Sayang’s afternoon tea at the Rasa Wing Lounge.

It came with a 3-tier plate rack, with cakes, scones accompanied with cream and jam along with savory treats. Until today, the tradition of afternoon tea is still observed in both the Rasa Wing Lounge and the Spice Market Cafe over at the Garden Wing.

Golden Crust, a kiosk with its core of freshly baked hand made gourmet pies, tarts & quiches opened recently in Gurney Plaza. There is a range of fillings and crust including crust pastry and puff pastry. I was overwhelmed by the selections on the menu.

The cottage pie is rich, with a filling of meatiness, green peas, corn, carrots, blend of fresh herbs and a layer of creamy mashed potatoes. The combination of flavors are well-balanced. It is well received by customers, especially for those who like the smooth texture potato with light gravy.